ALUMNI
Donated pilot plant directs
student learning toward
entrepreneurship
Beginning fall 2011, chemical engineering students
will be educated in biodiesel production and design
processes through the department’s senior laboratory
course, led by Antony Beris, the Arthur Metzner
Professor of Chemical Engineering. The opportunity
is the result of a generous gift from UD alumnus
JAMES SEFERIS, PH.D. 77, who donated a biodiesel
processor to the department last spring.
House in Colburn Laboratory, the biodiesel processor (worth
an estimated $50k) is capable of recycling 130-150 gallons
of cooking oil per batch to produce 100 gallons of biodiesel
fuel, as well as glycerin, a syrupy by-product with many uses in
agriculture, pharmaceuticals and beauty products.
Seferis calls himself a ‘venture catalyst’ – someone who
influences a reaction without actually taking part in it. Through
this donation, Seferis said he hopes to “catalyze a spirit of
entrepreneurship, teaching and leadership” that will inspire UD
chemical engineering students to create new innovations. He
said the effort may also eventually seed start-up companies
focused on sustainability issues.
“What is really interesting about UD is the integrative thinking
and systemic approach to energy,” said Seferis. “The beauty of
this project is the opportunity to recycle not just oil, but also
ideas that may now gain a foothold because of new technology,
giving hope to the next generation,” said Seferis.
He continued on, “Most commercial innovations are actually
re-innovations. I’m investing in the University to engage the
community with science, because the future in engineering
is people.”
Seferis is a distinguished educator in chemical engineering,
management science, environmental health and technology.
In addition to his research on polymeric composites, materials
and processes, including clean energy, Seferis is a sought after
advisor, consultant and lecturer in aviation, chemical and
energy sectors.
He earned his doctoral degree in chemical engineering at
UD in 1977. Following a distinguished thirty-year academic
career at University of Washington in Seattle, with additional
appointments at universities in Greece, Germany and Korea,
Seferis founded GloCal Network Corporation (USA) in 2005 and
currently serves as the firm’s chairman, president and CEO.
Senior Design Award honors
former faculty member,
David G.R. Short
DR. DAVID SHORT provided
dedicated and excellent
teaching in the chemical
engineering department for
more than ten years, and in the
course of aiding us with our
undergraduate teaching mission,
developed substantive and innovative curricula and
teaching materials as well as provided guidance and
mentoring to hundreds of chemical engineering
students. In recognition of his extraordinary service
the Department of Chemical Engineering establishes
the David G.R. Short Senior Design Award. This
honor, which includes a certificate of achievement
and a cash award, is given to the senior design team
in CHEG 432 Chemical Process Analysis that best
exemplifies the traits that David so valued—namely a
quality engineering design incorporating significant
effort and personal initiative. The winning team will
be determined by the instructors in CHEG 432 and
awarded annually at the senior banquet.
UNIVERSITY of DELAWARE 25